Shelby soccer fends off Burns late

Published: Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at 08:58 PM.

Things got pretty interesting for a bit near the end of the Shelby-Burns varsity boys soccer match at Blanton Memorial Stadium Wednesday evening.

The host Golden Lions had a 2-0 lead and let a couple of key scoring opportunities get by. So when the Bulldogs’ Cody Dorsey found the net on a breakaway goal with nine minutes remaining, the visitors had cut the margin to 2-1.

Shelby, though, got a big break less than two minutes later though when Charles Dixon’s direct kick went off the keepers’ hands and into the goal to restore a two-point margin en route to a 3-1 South Mountain Athletic Conference victory.

The Lions (4-0 SMAC, 6-1 overall) went ahead 1-0 on Tyler Cowan’s goal off a David Ray Allen assist at the 38-minute mark of the second half. Cowan punched another goal in with 26 minutes left to set the stage for the late flurry.

Will Bryant was in goal for Shelby in the win.

“Our motto this year is selflessness, not selfish,” said Burns coach John Grellman. “We’ve got a lot of players in different positions from where they’ve played before. I’m really proud of them for that, it’s about team, and there hasn’t been a lot of complaining.”

Burns now stands 3-2 on the season, 2-1 in SMAC competition, heading into Monday’s contest at home against Draughn.

Things got pretty interesting for a bit near the end of the Shelby-Burns varsity boys soccer match at Blanton Memorial Stadium Wednesday evening.

The host Golden Lions had a 2-0 lead and let a couple of key scoring opportunities get by. So when the Bulldogs’ Cody Dorsey found the net on a breakaway goal with nine minutes remaining, the visitors had cut the margin to 2-1.

Shelby, though, got a big break less than two minutes later though when Charles Dixon’s direct kick went off the keepers’ hands and into the goal to restore a two-point margin en route to a 3-1 South Mountain Athletic Conference victory.

The Lions (4-0 SMAC, 6-1 overall) went ahead 1-0 on Tyler Cowan’s goal off a David Ray Allen assist at the 38-minute mark of the second half. Cowan punched another goal in with 26 minutes left to set the stage for the late flurry.

Will Bryant was in goal for Shelby in the win.

“Our motto this year is selflessness, not selfish,” said Burns coach John Grellman. “We’ve got a lot of players in different positions from where they’ve played before. I’m really proud of them for that, it’s about team, and there hasn’t been a lot of complaining.”

Burns now stands 3-2 on the season, 2-1 in SMAC competition, heading into Monday’s contest at home against Draughn.

“We’re excited about our season, we’ve got high ambitions,” Grellman said. “We’re trying to get Burns soccer some more respect.”

The chances Shelby had to put the game away early is something David Steeves is concerned about with his Golden Lion squad.

“We’re just not putting the ball in the back of the net,” said Steeves. “We’re working on it. It’s not a particular player. We’ve just got to do a better job in the attacking third of the field. Hopefully we’ll continue to make improvement.”